The Restoration and Reconstruction of Notre-Dame of Paris: A Test for the Profession

Abstract:On April 15, 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame of Paris suffered a major disaster: a fire destroyed its eight-hundred-year-old roof, the nineteenth-century spire, and threatened other parts of the building. An effective intervention by the firemen managed to contain the damages and saved the other parts of the cathedral from destruction. The disaster caused huge emotional reactions throughout the world, highlighting the symbolism of Notre-Dame as a place of spiritual and historical values, enshrined in its World Heritage status.The restoration and reconstruction of Notre-Dame has become an important case for Heritage conservation. There are many significant issues at stake: the way in which monuments are protected from risks; the approach and the methodologies of architectural reconstruction; the role played by technical, financial and institutional actors; the relationship between politics and heritage in a highly symbolic place; and finally, the role played by its World Heritage status. The choices for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame have significant impacts on future conservation and restoration projects.